Chapter 93: Vaughn: I Want The Philosopher’s Stone!
In the end, Vaughn neither agreed nor refused.
He still needed to digest the information brought by the web of destiny and the path of legend.
In addition, although the topics he discussed with Dumbledore touched upon the most profound magical knowledge.
In essence, he was still just a first-year student.
For the sake of talent points, he had to return to reality.
He would do his best to catch up on his studies, ensure that he could complete the system’s main quest, and receive the reward.
Anyway, Harry’s trial had not yet begun. Dumbledore’s invitation was just to involve him more deeply in the plan, hoping his presence could interfere with the destinies of Harry and Voldemort.
That night, Vaughn rarely suffered from insomnia. The next day when he appeared in the Dining Hall, gracing his loyal Gryffindors with his presence after a long absence, he and Harry, with their matching dark circles under their eyes, became a unique sight at the Long Table.
“I’ll bet he’s been plotting all sorts of wicked schemes while he was away. He probably spent all last night figuring out how to torture us, Harry!”
At noon, Ron said desperately to Harry and Hermione in the Gryffindor Common Room.
Unfortunately, after staying up all night, a dazed Harry didn’t pay attention to Ron’s words.
Only Hermione, her sensitive ears twitching, took note of Ron’s words.
So, that afternoon, everyone saw Ronald Weasley, a boy who had become famous for being “the friend of the Chosen One” and “killing a troll with his brother Vaughn,” and then quickly faded into obscurity, suddenly become a star figure in the castle—
Peeves, for some reason, had targeted him.
He rode on Ron’s head, dyed his hair in all sorts of colors with strange pigments, and then, during Ron’s classes, mimicked Ron’s voice to shout obscenities, fart, and curse, disrupting the classroom.
Even though Ron eventually proved that Peeves had done it.
The annoyed professors still gave him punishment—double homework.
“If you hadn’t been naughty and provoked Peeves, why would he be targeting you like this? Wetherby!”
Professor Binns’s words perfectly summarized the professors’ true opinion of the incident, although, as usual, he mispronounced Ron’s surname.
At night, while bathing, Ron, who had been hit by a dung bomb thrown by Peeves, could no longer stand it. When he, disregarding his embarrassment, invoked Vaughn’s name, he finally understood why Peeves was targeting him.
“Oh—poor, stupid Wetherby, he used the name of Vaughn Weasley, the great devil, to scare Peeves, but…”
Peeves blinked his wicked little eyes, grinned widely, “But the one who had Peeves torment Wetherby is Vaughn Weasley—heeheeheehaaaahaaa, the great devil said that poor, stupid Wetherby was badmouthing him behind his back, and Wetherby needs to wake up, Peeves is happy to accept this commissioned job, heh heh!”
Ron returned to the Common Room in a furious rage, completely oblivious to the foul odor emanating from him, which almost made everyone faint.
“I knew he wouldn’t let me off the hook. See, he’s never gone more than two weeks without bothering me since we were kids!”
He loudly accused Harry and Hermione, then glared menacingly at the other students in the Common Room, “I’d better not find out which one of you snitched to Vaughn, or I’ll make sure you taste these fists that once punched a troll!”
In his anger, he naturally didn’t notice his good friend Hermione quietly lowering her head.
For Vaughn, punishing his brother was just a matter of considering pros and cons, and reviewing minor incidents in life.
In fact, for the several days after talking with Dumbledore, he hadn’t stopped thinking about what Dumbledore had said, about the existence of the web of destiny, about how his efforts to establish the Werewolf Affairs Committee affected destiny, and the excitement of glimpsing the path ahead.
It took him several days to temporarily set aside these unrealistic thoughts and refocus on reviewing and accumulating House Points.
Another week passed, and he finally caught up, and using his personal “affinity,” he made some of the more restless individuals in Slytherin—such as Malfoy, who had been acting out and running his mouth everywhere due to his recent absence—become obedient and well-behaved again.
Time entered March, and Slytherin, after a brief loss of first place in House Points, had returned to the top.
With some temporary relaxation, Vaughn decided to take Hermione out for a stroll on the second weekend of March.
Entering March, the Scottish Highlands were finally no longer perpetually overcast. Especially on this day, the weather was fine, the sky was as clear as a sea of forget-me-nots, with a few white clouds dotting the expanse. Bright sunlight shone on everything, and even the wind carried a hint of warmth.
It was as if, all of a sudden, summer had arrived.
Hermione happily accepted Vaughn’s invitation. She specifically changed into a dress, used the hair potion Vaughn had given her to make her fluffy hair smooth, and tied it into a ponytail.
They strolled from the Black Lake to the Forbidden Forest, finally resting briefly under a giant oak tree. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling down and illuminating the side of the girl’s face.
The light reflected off the faint down on her face, as if casting a halo around her, a sight only seen on a young maiden in her prime.
Vaughn watched quietly, quietly listening to Hermione talk about minor events around them.
Until Hermione noticed his gaze, blushed shyly, and asked him bashfully, “What are you looking at?”
Vaughn smiled and took her hand, “A beautiful girl.”
It was a bit cheesy, but girls in love are usually brainless. Hermione, always clear-headed and sharp-tongued, blushed and couldn’t utter a word, only subtly shifted her body to sit closer to Vaughn.
Their clasped hands felt each other’s warmth, letting the ambiguity spread.
But in Vaughn’s heart, his thoughts were unrelated to any romance. Memories from his past life kept flooding his mind, finally settling on George, who had lost his ear, and Fred, who had passed away with a smile.
Harry and Voldemort’s destinies were a meat grinder; unless he gave up everything now and stayed away from England and even the Wizarding World, no one could escape it.
This was something he already knew, but he had always thought that when the time came, he might be powerful enough to save them.
Until Dumbledore told him about the nature of destiny.
The web of destiny was too ethereal; he couldn’t touch or understand it now. But the playwright example Dumbledore gave was interesting.
Destiny was both the cruelty of heaven and earth and the cruelty of the human world, because destiny was the interaction between people, the conflicts arising from that interaction.
He might possess power in the future, but could he really restrict George and Fred?
People cannot be restricted.
Even if he explained the danger to them, for the sake of ideals, for freedom, or for some other reason.
They might still walk onto the battlefield and die in some obscure corner, just like his mother’s two brothers.
The only way to avoid all this, the only way to find peace of mind, was to kill Voldemort, or rather, to resolve the destinies of Harry and Voldemort!
That evening, Vaughn went to the office on the Eighth Floor, knocked on the door, and looked at the serene Dumbledore, “I want to make a deal.”
Dumbledore nodded, “Please speak!”
Facing Vaughn’s request for a deal, Dumbledore was calm. He even leisurely poured himself a glass of juice.
With the fortune he had accumulated over a hundred years, he could offer Gold Galleons, rare Materials, or profound knowledge and Magic.
He believed Vaughn would not make any excessive demands.
After all, Vaughn’s agreement indicated a willingness to cooperate, and he certainly wouldn’t make things difficult for him.
Then, he heard Vaughn say, “I want the Philosopher’s Stone!”
“Pfft—cough cough!”
Dumbledore spat out a mouthful of juice. Fortunately, there was no one else around him this time.
With a flick of his hand, the juice-stained robe immediately became dry and clean. Dumbledore’s beard trembled:
“What do you want?”
“The Philosopher’s Stone!” Vaughn rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll just borrow it for a while. I’m almost out of money for those werewolves recently, and I’m planning to get some gold from the Philosopher’s Stone.”
This was, of course, a casual excuse.
In reality, he was still thinking about the system’s Side Quest. Since he had agreed to Dumbledore and would participate more deeply in the Chosen One’s plan, Vaughn felt he would be letting himself down if he didn’t take advantage of it.
Stroking his beard, Dumbledore felt a slight toothache. The refusal suddenly wouldn’t come out.
After hesitating for a long time, he asked, “How long do you need to borrow it for?”
“A week.”
Vaughn said that according to the system’s quest description, he only needed to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone. However, since he could get his hands on this Alchemical Marvel, it would be a shame not to study it.
Thinking of this, he smiled again, “Of course, if you could introduce Nicolas Flamel to me, I could also not borrow the Philosopher’s Stone. I heard he and his wife are living in seclusion in Devon?”
Hearing this, Dumbledore no longer hesitated, and a gentle, albeit fake, smile appeared on his face. “Although using the Philosopher’s Stone to create gold is somewhat unearned, your intentions are good. As Headmaster, how can I prevent you from doing good deeds?”
He stood up and walked out:
“Follow me, child. I’ll show you the trial I’ve prepared for Harry.”
“Don’t pretend not to hear, Albus. I just want to consult Nicolas Flamel about Alchemy. You know, this subject is too ancient and lacks systematic organization and classification, making it very difficult to get started.”
“What did you say? I’m sorry, I’m old, and my ears often have inexplicable problems.”
Vaughn didn’t mind, and followed Dumbledore out of the Headmaster’s Office, saying leisurely, “Oh dear, I suddenly thought, was my decision a bit hasty? Rashly getting involved in Harry’s and Tom’s destinies doesn’t seem very wise.”
Old Dumbledore, despite his age, reacted quite nimbly, immediately replying, “Ah—you mentioned Nicolas Flamel. Yes, he is practically a living fossil when it comes to Alchemy, but…”
He sighed, “Let him rest, Vaughn. He and Perenelle have decided to stop taking the Elixir of Life. As an old friend, I hope they can spend the final chapter of their lives in peace.”
Vaughn didn’t speak further.
Although he never considered himself a good person, even the most flexible bottom line is still a bottom line. He certainly wouldn’t genuinely disturb a pair of old people who had lived for six centuries and now only wished to die peacefully.
Even if he genuinely wanted to consult Nicolas Flamel.
Since enrolling at Hogwarts, Vaughn had borrowed many books on Alchemy from the Library. By now, he could already make some small gadgets—the magical gadgets he had modified with Muggle equipment when he was researching the Wolfsbane Potion had incorporated some Alchemy techniques.
But those techniques were very basic, merely applying spells to equipment and then solidifying them.
It was more like a modern improved version of item enchantment than Alchemy.
True Alchemy should be about changing the essence of matter. According to some books Vaughn had read, Alchemy believed that all matter in the world could be mutually transformed. Stones could be transformed into gold through a series of transmutations.
Soil could also be transformed into a living body through a series of transmutations.
Excluding the concept of creating life, just looking at Alchemy’s transformation of matter, it was practically the Wizarding World’s nuclear physics!
It’s just that Muggles use particle accelerators, high-energy rays, and other means to activate protons and neutrons to bombard atomic nuclei, while wizards use Magic to achieve similar goals more efficiently.
For example, creating gold.
Muggles only in modern times started using particle accelerators or high-energy rays to bombard substances with atomic nuclei close to gold, such as mercury, to artificially create gold. However, this requires a large amount of energy and the results are uncontrollable, as energy cannot be uniformly and precisely applied to every nucleus.
Whereas wizards have been able to do it for a long time, the cost being only Magic Power or some relatively rare materials.
For Vaughn, using Alchemy to create gold was actually a very uninteresting matter.
If he wanted gold, he had plenty of ways to get it. Why waste Magic on such a thing?
In the Wizarding World’s nuclear physics, of course, he should study nuclear energy and radioactive isotopes!
Dumbledore was clearly unaware of Vaughn’s dangerous thoughts; otherwise, he would never have agreed to Vaughn studying Alchemy.
Now leading the way, he compromised, “Vaughn, don’t disturb Nicolas. If you want to learn Alchemy in the future, I can teach you… Of course, I suggest starting in a couple of years, as there is still a lot for you to learn right now.”
Vaughn accepted the suggestion.
He truly had too much to learn now, so there was no need to be so urgent. Improving his Magical strength should be the priority.
As they spoke, the two had already descended the stairs.
Dumbledore led Vaughn to the floor that he had deliberately forbidden students from roaming since the start of the school year.
“Albus, you’ve been preparing Harry’s trial since the start of the school year. When did you discover there was a problem with Quirrell?”
“…Before the start of the school year.” Dumbledore clasped his hands in front of his abdomen and walked unhurriedly, his gaze fixed on the door at the end of the corridor, the door he had warned students not to go to at the beginning of the school year.
“In fact, Tom hid very well. You must have also observed Quirrell using Magic, right? Couldn’t you detect any trace of Dark Arts on him at all?”
Vaughn nodded, “Except for later when Tom absorbed his life, causing his life essence to dim, there was almost no abnormality.”
“Yes, I didn’t discover it at first either,” Dumbledore sighed. “He wrapped his head with a scarf, and I just thought he had encountered an accident during his travels and was so nervous that he was neurotic. You know, there are quite a few such wizards in the Wizarding World…”
“It’s just that Tom underestimated how much I value Harry, and he doesn’t know that although I couldn’t sense anything in terms of Magic, destiny would give me warnings. Before Harry enrolled, I used the magic to observe the web of destiny, which I showed you before, to patrol the entire castle for more than ten days, including the professors.”
Vaughn was silent for a moment, then asked, “Can Quirrell still be saved?”
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then replied, “No… When he opened his soul to let Tom parasitize it, Quirrell was already dead!”
This was a sad topic.
Vaughn had heard Dumbledore talk about Quirrell’s past.
In old Dumbledore’s words, he was a young man with great curiosity, high talent, and an optimistic outlook.
Professor McGonagall also spoke highly of him. Vaughn still remembered seeing a graduation photo of Quirrell as an excellent student with Professor McGonagall on Professor McGonagall’s desk during a Transfiguration Club meeting.
Except for Divination class, other professors had similar remarks. Of course, they didn’t know the truth, and when they spoke of Quirrell, it was mostly with regret.
Some of the more impatient ones even believed that the curse in Defense Against the Dark Arts class had turned Quirrell into a babbling, timid coward.
For example, Professor Silvanus Kettleburn.
This professor of Care of Magical Creatures was always known for his irascibility and recklessness. Because of this, after many years of teaching at Hogwarts, he now only had one arm and half a leg that were original parts; the rest were magical prosthetics.
However, over the decades, he had many students, and even Voldemort and Hagrid had once been young wizards trailing behind him, eagerly asking for knowledge.
Dumbledore was very pleased that Hagrid had been able to learn a wealth of knowledge about Magical Creatures from him back then.
Not wanting to dwell on Quirrell, Dumbledore began to talk about the trial he had prepared for Harry.
The first he mentioned was Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn: “Over the years, I haven’t been able to get Silvanus to give up his eccentric fondness for large, ferocious Magical Creatures. Decades ago, during Headmaster Armando’s tenure, the school was rehearsing a play, ‘The Lucky Fountain,’ and they asked him to provide a giant earthworm.”
“As a result, he lent the troupe a Fire-Drake after enchanting it with a growth spell… you can imagine what a disaster that was.”
Vaughn raised an eyebrow.
Fire-Drakes were Magical Creatures with very short lifespans and peculiar survival methods. They were born from uncontrolled magical flames.
During their lifespan, they would desperately lay eggs, and an hour later, their bodies, having laid their eggs, would burn intensely, turning to ash and losing their lives.
A normal Fire-Drake, with a slender body similar to an ordinary water snake, could ignite a house when it died, let alone one magnified by a spell.
Vaughn knew of it because of Fire-Drake eggs, which were ingredients for Love Potions.
“For the original trial, I had intended to ask Silvanus to provide a Magical Creature. But my aged memory tells me that if I don’t want Harry to be harmed, I’d better choose someone else. So, I chose Hagrid—he lent me a very ferocious Magical Creature that looked quite imposing.”
As he spoke, Dumbledore had led Vaughn to the end of the corridor and opened that door.
The moment the door opened, a foul smell mixed with heavy panting rushed towards them, and a giant shadow enveloped Vaughn and Dumbledore.
It was a dog about 14 feet tall, its stout body almost filling the room. It had three heads, all ferocious and cruel. Even in its sleep, the dagger-like, gleaming teeth protruding from its lips spoke of savagery.
Hearing the sound of the door, the three-headed dog opened its eyes, its enormous, bloodshot eyes glaring at the two of them.
“Good evening, Fluffy.”
Dumbledore greeted it.
Unfortunately, the three-headed dog did not comply. Its three heads growled, and one of them lunged forward to bite.
Dumbledore was not nervous at all. He even said to Vaughn with interest, “Compared to those cruel little things Silvanus kept, Fluffy is much safer, and he has trained this big fellow with a unique hobby.”
Saying this, he clapped his hands, and Magic played music.
The three-headed dog, which was lunging to bite, immediately stopped. Its six ears perked up, and its three fierce faces quickly became entranced and drowsy in the music.
Soon, it yawned, its massive body twisting a few times in the room, making the floor and ceiling creak, and then it fell into a deep sleep.
Dumbledore blinked, “As the first trial for Harry, what do you think?”
Vaughn pouted, “Not much. It can only fool children, or perhaps dupe Quirrell and Tom when they are desperate.”
“Oh—Vaughn, don’t be so harsh. At least before knowing its weakness of being easily hypnotized by music, it was quite intimidating. A three-headed dog is not that easy to deal with.”
“A single Killing Curse could solve it.”
“No, the Killing Curse requires immense Magic Power, especially to kill such a massive creature. Quirrell should not be able to provide that much Magic Power anymore… Come, let’s go to the next stage.”
Dumbledore used Magic to move Fluffy aside, revealing the trapdoor beneath him.
He opened it and took Vaughn floating down.
The passage beneath the trapdoor was pitch black. Something was rustling and wriggling in the darkness.
This stage was even more boring. Even without relying on memories from his past life, just by smelling the dampness in the air and observing that unique movement pattern, he knew what it was.
“Heh, Devil’s Snare, a harmless little thing.”
Vaughn summoned flames, and a large magic fireball hovered above their heads.
The moment light and heat erupted, the darkness was dispelled, and the snake-like vines that had been hidden in the darkness and coiled towards them from all directions immediately shrieked and retreated into the wall cracks.
Dumbledore applauded vigorously, “Very good, Vaughn. Pomona would be proud of you. I must say, when it comes to plants, being able to apply textbook knowledge in practice is sufficient.”
Vaughn smiled wryly, “Thank you for the compliment. Unfortunately, I’m not Harry.”
“To tell you the truth, this stage was added later. I didn’t actually expect Harry and Ron to know how to solve it. Instead, it’s more suited for Miss Granger.”
Speaking of this, Dumbledore felt a headache coming on. Although he didn’t expect Harry to be as academically excellent as his parents, Harry turning into a failure did annoy him quite a bit.
Vaughn was also somewhat displeased, “Are you going to include my girlfriend in the trial without consulting me?”
“Oh, I apologize. I guarantee there is no danger. Ultimately, only Harry can face Tom.”
Dumbledore apologized as usual, then looked at Vaughn with a peculiar expression, hesitating to speak.
“What do you want to say, Albus?”
“…Although I am happy to see you in love, you are still young. Should you perhaps restrain yourselves in front of me? I am the Headmaster, do you remember?”
“Oh, so Albus, is there any rule at Hogwarts that prohibits dating?”
“…” Dumbledore’s beard twitched. He began to consider whether he should add some school rules.
But then, if he prohibited students from dating, he would likely immediately unseat Phineas Black and become the most unpopular Headmaster in Hogwarts history.
